Athersley Recreation have announced that their management duo, Wayne Thompson and Nev Hunt, have been "relieved of their duties with immediate effect".

The decision was made at a board meeting on Monday - the Rec are currently seventeenth in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division table having picked up four points from their six league games so far, the latest match a 3-0 home loss to Maltby Main on Saturday.

Director Alan Richardson said in a statement: "Although early in the season, Athersley have lost five of their first seven competitive games, shipping seven goals in their last two.

"And, the board felt that, in order to try and give any replacements the best opportunity of getting the club back on track, it was best that the decision was made sooner rather than later.

"The board would like to thank Wayne for his contribution and commitment to the club over the past two years - the same goes for Nev who joined as Wayne's number two at the beginning of the season.

"In the interim, Peter Goodlad will assume team manager responsibilities with first team coach Kevan Locke as his assistant until such times as a replacement is appointed.

"We would like to wish both Wayne and Nev all the best for the future."